Real-world outcomes of very elderly lymphoma patients in Sweden

On 21 November 2018, Tove Wästerlid from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SE, and colleagues, published in Blood a population analysis performed via the Swedish Lymphoma Registry (> 95% national coverage). This study focused on the outcomes and clinical characteristics of very elderly patients with major lymphoma types.

Very elderly lymphoma patients usually present with comorbidities and their frailty usually renders them ineligible for most clinical trials. Thus, treatment regimens are limited and not thoroughly researched in this population. The aim of the study here was to evaluate, specifically in individuals aged ≥ 85, lymphoma outcomes and treatment choices. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival (OS).

The results of this real-world analysis in Swedish very elderly lymphoma patients, indicate that in DLBCL and MZL current active treatments offer a significantly superior survival outcome, when compared to no active treatment administration. According to the authors, this study is the largest population-based lymphoma analysis for that age group and provides valuable information on clinical disease management and how it can be improved. Updated outcome analysis from this study, and in combination with data from the Danish Lymphoma Registry will be presented at the 60th American Society of Hematology Meeting, 2018, San Diego, CA, USA.

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The European Lymphoma Institute is comprised of a network of top European specialists in the field of lymphoma who are dedicated to research, training and education. Together they look to define strategies to analyse and characterize lymphoma and its common diagnostic procedures and therapeutic standards, as well as to facilitate clinical and fundamental research. This all results in the advancement of lymphoma research and it guarantees equal access for all patients to the best possible care.